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Controlling The HIV Pandemic: A Public Health Focus

Overview of Activity

Just 25 years since it was first reported, HIV/AIDS has become one of the world's
greatest public health crises. More than 39 million people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, mostly in developing countries. In this exercise, students are asked to participate first-hand in the scientific process as they study one of the world's most pressing problems. Students will learn scientific inquiry as they examine source data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and analyze the state of the HIV pandemic in several hard-hit countries. Students will think critically about the public health measures that might be needed to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in different regions of the world.

Amount of Time Required for Activity: Two 40-minute class periods (80 min)

Recommended Uses:

Note: Teachers may use this activity as a stand-alone unit or in conjunction with a field
trip to the Koshland Science Museum.

If a field trip is planned, this activity may be used to engage and encourage students
to think about how the HIV/AIDS pandemic impacts different countries prior to visiting
the exhibit; or it can be used after the visit to build on student understanding of how
HIV/AIDS affects different countries.This is the most effective way to use this activity
since students will have seen the videos and learned about infectious diseases and
HIV/AIDS.

Description
To gain an overview of the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, students begin by viewing the "Controlling the HIV Pandemic" video on the Koshland Science Museum's website.
The video, part of the Koshland's exhibit, Infectious Diseases: Evolving Challenges to
Human Health, presents a compelling view of the epidemic's devastating effects around
the world, public health efforts to combat the disease, and the challenges involved in
developing an HIV/AIDS vaccine. Students will get a thorough overview of the unique
problems each of several countries faces in dealing with the pandemic.

After viewing the video, students should be divided into groups. Each group will be
assigned a country and will analyze its source data from the WHO on the HIV pandemic.
Source data is available for Armenia, Botswana, Cambodia, Costa Rica, China, India,
Indonesia, or Kenya. Students will calculate different epidemiological statistics that
they will use to compare the state of the epidemic in these nations. They also will use
the data to plot graphs and will examine research on steps that have been taken to
control the disease.

The activity ends with students participating in a comparative analysis of the data
as they share their results with other groups in the class. Data from the United
States also can be used as a reference point to make connections among these
countries.

Ultimately, students will have developed a broad understanding of how infectious
diseases can be controlled in different regions of the world given certain socio-political
and economic realities, while building connections with the science behind the
headlines.

This activity is designed by the Koshland Science Museum to accompany the HIV
videos.

Relation to the Science Standards(High School)

Content Standard A - All students should develop abilities necessary to do
scientific inquiry

Content Standard C - All students should develop an understanding of
biological evolution and behavior of organisms

Content Standard E - All students should develop understandings about
science and technology

Content Standard F - All students should develop understanding of personal
and community health, environmental quality, science and technology in local,
national, and global challenges, and natural and human-induced hazards

Content Standard G - All students should develop understanding of nature
of scientific knowledge, historical perspectives, and science as a human
endeavor